Family Sailing Holidays
Yacht charter holidays are the ultimate family escape. Getting out in the fresh air and doing an activity everyone get stuck into is a great way to spend quality time with your nearest and dearest. Here's some helpful advice to get the most out of your next family holiday.
Updated January 6, 2025
Why Sailing is the Ultimate Feel-good Family Holiday
For a family holiday that combines travel, adventure and the opportunity to create special memories together, look no further than a yacht charter holiday.
Getting out in the fresh air and doing an activity the whole clan can get stuck into is a great way to spend quality time with your nearest and dearest. The feeling of watching a sunset at anchor in a quiet bay is simply incredible, and nothing beats the fun of leaping into turquoise water to cool off from the midday heat.
The good news is that it doesn’t need to cost a fortune, you don’t need to be able to sail, and perhaps best of all, a yacht charter offers you total flexibility and independence. We can create an itinerary specially tailored to suit your family, so all you need to do turn up and enjoy a great week on your perfect yacht.
Here are some useful tips to help you plan the perfect sailing holiday for your family.
What is the best age to take children on a sailing holiday?
There is no age restriction to come on a HELM sailing holiday, but we would generally advise against taking children under 18 months old as they will need more surveillance and you may find yourself spending the whole time keeping an eye on them rather than having a relaxing and enjoyable holiday!
If you would you like to bring your children, having another set of eyes and hands will make the experience easier and more fun. And we have the perfect solution!
Bringing children on your charter, made easy!
We have partnered with premium developmental exercise company, TARKA who offer services for children aged 18 months +. Their Holiday Hero service allows trained instructors to join you on abroad and on your charter to entertain and care for your children whilst the parents aim to relax.
TARKA's aim is to educate children physically and emotionally to be happy and healthy and offer on trip child care services.
All families have the opportunity to meet with their chosen instructor before they join your charter.
If you are interested in this service please let us know in your enquiry!
Where should we go?
If your children are of school age, then you will probably be looking to take a holiday during the summer holidays. With this in mind, the Balearics, Croatia, Greece and Turkey are good choices.
The winds are light, the distances between stops are short so the kids won’t get bored and there are plenty of beaches and secret coves to explore. The wonderful, turquoise Mediterranean waters also make for great swimming and snorkelling, and onshore there are superb historic ruins, charming villages and great places to eat.
Find out more in our destinations section.
What sort of boat?
Although all sorts of boats are popular with families, in our opinion a catamaran is always a good choice, as it offers plenty of space and comfort, plus extra stability. They are very comfortable holiday platforms.
A catamaran's shallow draft allows you to sail in much shallower waters than a monohull yacht can, which means you can anchor close to shore – handy for swimming to the beach, of if you want to go snorkelling in caves or grottos.
What do you want to do?
Depending on your children's ages and interests, you can add all sorts of activities and extras into the holiday mix, from kayaking and scuba diving to wakeboarding and jet-skiing. Just let us know and we can arrange it.
Having said that, we find that many families enjoy spending the mornings exploring the coastline, dropping anchor at midday for lunch and then spending the afternoons swimming off their boat and sunbathing on deck, followed by a delicious meal at a small, family-run taverna in the evening.
Sometimes less is more!
Begin your adventure.
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Our brokers hold a wealth of knowledge on fleets and destinations around the world and will help you create a unique, tailored yacht charter.
Need some help?
If you are unsure about charter or boat selection, contact us at HELM to help you decide.
We only choose boats that are in excellent condition, and we are here to help you every step of the way and to make sure the whole process is as easy as possible.